Rookley is a village and civil parish on the Isle of Wight. It is located five kilometres south of Newport near the centre of the island. The population of the civil parish was recorded in the 2021 census as 607.
It has a country park on the site of the last working Isle of Wight brickworks. There is a pub at the country park and another, the "Chequers", a short distance from the village. The latter was the centre of the island's smuggling trade in the 18th century.
Name The name means 'the wood or woodland clearing frequented by rooks', from Old English hrōc and lēah, the wood probably referring to Bunkers Copse, a small woodland in the village.
1202: Roclee
1235: Rokele
1328: Roukley
1583: Rookeley
1769: Rookley
History
On 26 September 1940 a Messerschmitt Bf 110, piloted by Fw Rohde and Fw Both, crashed in a field ~ south of the Chequers Inn, with both the pilots being taken as POWs.
Demographics At the 2001 census, its population was 641. At the 2011 census, its population was 638. In 2021, its population was 607. It had a 0.5% annual population change from 2011 to 2021. +Gender (2021)GenderNumberPercentMale29850.3%Female29449.7% +Age Groups (2021)Age NumberPercent0-179015.2%18-6433055.7%65+17229.1% +Age Distribution (2021)AgeNumberMaleFemale0-940241610-1965372820-2941221930-3948212740-4957243350-59119546560-6994415370-7991434880+371720 +Country of Birth (2021)CountryNumberPercentU.K56292.7%E.U193.1%Europe (other)91.5%Middle East and Asia20.3%Africa71.2%Other country71.2% +Ethnic Group (2021)GroupNumberPercentWhite58997%Asian71.2%Black30.5%Mixed/multiple81.3% +Religion (2021)ReligionNumberPercentChristian30353.5%Islam20.4%Buddhism10.2%Other religion30.5%No religion25745.4%
Transport Southern Vectis bus route 3 serves the village on its way between Newport, Ventnor, Shanklin, Sandown and Ryde, including intermediate villages and hamlets.
Amenities The Village Association Playing Field and Village Hall are in Highwood Lane. They are available for hire via the website. Gardening Galore is a popular event held annually.
See also
Pidford Manor
References